Revised:
December 14th, 2021
We recommend everyone have their furnace tuned-up once per year. One of the easiest ways to stay on top of your service is through a maintenance plan. In this video we’ll talk about Fire & Ice’s fantastic furnace maintenance plan.
Hi, I’m Jerad. Here at Fire & Ice, we recommend everyone have maintenance performed on their furnace once a year to make sure everything is working as it should. Most people will have their maintenance done before the colder months, but it can be done any time of the year. For many of our customers they like the convenience of one of our maintenance plans. In this video we’ll go over our fantastic maintenance plan and go over everything that’s included.
Why does my furnace need maintenance?
Before we dive into the fantastic tune up let’s take a minute to see why your furnace needs maintenance. Your furnace is like your car. Failing to change the oil or rotate your tires in our cars can greatly affect its performance. A poorly maintained furnace can result in a loss in performance, wasted energy, and premature failure.
According to Energy Star, nearly 42% of your utility bill goes towards heating your home. Having regular maintenance done to your furnace will detect problems before they become larger ones. It can also help your furnace last longer, operate more efficiently, saving you money.
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What’s done during a fantastic furnace maintenance plan tune-up?
Now that we know why maintenance is so important let’s walk through everything that’s done during a fantastic tune up.
On the day of your service, you'll receive a text message letting you know your service tech is on the way. Once they arrive, they will park their company vehicle where you can see them. Each tech will wear a company uniform, name badge, shoe covers, and personal protective equipment. Our techs do this because we respect your safety.
The tune-up for your furnace starts at the thermostat. The tech will raise the temperature by about 4 degrees. We like the furnace to run for a couple minutes for the first set of tests we run. During this time, we’ll go over any questions you may have and discuss how your system has been performing.
Next, we'll do an assessment of the furnace and surrounding area. We’ll make note of anything that may be affecting your furnace or home. Some of the things we look for include: the water heater location, the condition of the gas and drain lines, presence of mold, asbestos on the ductwork, any unusual smells or sounds, and others.
Next, we check the filter to make sure it’s clean and installed properly. We also check for any air leaks or catches around the filter rack. If a new filter is available, we'll take the time to replace it. Next, we take a series of temperature readings from both the supply and return air ducts to see if they are within normal ranges for your furnace.
If your home has a whole-house humidifier, we will check that too. We'll make sure both the humidistat and humidifier are working and draining properly. We also assess the humidifier's pad’s condition. Generally, we recommend replacing the pad once per heating season.
Next, we move onto electrical components. We’ll take note of the amps the blower motor and inducer motor in high-efficiency models draw. These readings help us determine if the motors are operating normally or are in need of repair.
Next, we’ll turn off the furnace and begin cleaning the flame sensor and burners. Cleaning them is one of the best ways to ensure the furnace will continue to heat throughout the winter. We also check the condition and performance of the igniter. If an igniter has deteriorated too far the furnace won't start and will need to be replaced.
With the combustion components reassembled and wiring reattached we turn our focus to the blower motor. We begin by assessing the condition of the blower and check for any signs of oil. The presence of oil could be a sign that the motor needs replaced. One of the best things about our fantastic tune-ups is the thorough cleaning we do to the furnace, including the blower. To clean the blower, we remove it from the furnace and disassemble it. We then thoroughly clean the fan blades with a degreaser and hot water. While the fan blades dry, we also clean out the base of the furnace. With the blower motor removed we also visually inspect the heat exchanger looking for any cracks. Once the fan blades are dry, the blower is reassembled and reinstalled.
Next up, is the furnace's circuit board. We make sure all wiring connections inside and out of the furnace are secure and free of any corrosion and burns. We also will inspect the breaker to make sure the toggles are functional. We then inspect the exhaust flues from the furnace to the outside. We make sure they have the proper slope and are in good working order. For high-efficiency furnaces we inspect the outside termination to make sure its free of obstruction and installed correctly.
Next, we’ll turn the furnace back on and check the exhaust draft and pressure switch. If the draft is weak, we check for any obstructions and cracks in the tubing. If draft is still weak a recommendation for repair is likely. Next, we check the gas pressures with a manometer to ensure gas pressures are to the furnace’s specifications. We will make the proper adjustments if any are needed.
One of the last but most important steps we do is check carbon monoxide levels to make sure they are within normal levels. We check by inserting a combustion analyzer in both the supply air duct and exhaust pipe through a quarter inch hole. If a hole isn’t present, one will be drilled and later sealed with a piece of tape. The last step is to put the cover back on and pack up all the tools and clean the area we were working. A report will then be written of our findings with any recommendations for repairs. We conclude with a review of everything that was done and any questions you may have. In total a fantastic furnace tune up will take between 2 and three hours.
What are the next steps?
I hope by now you see the value and the attention to detail we provide with our fantastic furnace tune-ups. If you aren’t on one of our maintenance agreements already and would like to sign up visit our website and click the schedule service button. We’d love to set you up on one of our maintenance plans and get your next furnace tune-up on the calendar. Thank you for watching and we look forward to making your day better.
